BPL forensic audit exposes flaws
Mqondisi Dube | Friday January 20, 2017 14:18
The findings of the report, which was discussed at last week’s Botswana Football Association (BFA) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting will mean suspended BPL chief executive officer, Bennett Mamelodi and finance manager, Bosebogile Mpiwa face charges, according to a source.
Reports from BFA said the charges are still being formulated and the two are likely to be charged with gross negligence, which is a dismissible offence.
“It will depend on mitigation. They might be given a final warning depending on their presentation. What has to be determined is if there was intention to defraud or it was negligence,” a source close to the developments said.
But with the relationship between Mamelodi and the BPL board frosty, the chief executive officer is likely to leave the organisation.
“The charges are dismissible unless if there is strong mitigation. Some monies were not retired which implicates both Mamelodi and the finance manager,” the source added.
Mamelodi and Mpiwa have been on suspension while the forensic audit has been ongoing.
Local football was plunged into chaos when Mamelodi was initially suspended in March after the BPL exhausted its budget midway through the season leaving the organisation P6 million in the red.
Mamelodi was briefly reinstated in July, before he was suspended when the new BFA leadership took over in August, in a move meant to pave way for the audit. However, the institution of the audit was disputed with the auditors from South Africa accused of not following procedure after initially failing to go through local regulatory body, the Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA).
A source said Mamelodi is likely to challenge the authenticity and findings of the audit.
“There is a possibility that Mamelodi would want to have the findings tested in a court of law. Additionally, there are technical issues around the audit as the South African company might not have followed mandatory steps in instituting the audit,” the source said.
Acting BFA chief executive officer, Susan Lawrence had not responded to Mmegi Sport’s written enquiry on the matter as she was said to be engaged in meetings, while calls to the president, Maclean Letshwiti went unanswered. Mamelodi was also unavailable for comment.